PicSat
| PicSat | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: |
Astrometry satellite , amateur radio satellite |
| Country: |
 France
|
| Operator: | LESIA |
| COSPAR-ID : | 2018-004X |
| Mission dates | |
| Dimensions: | 3.9 kg |
| Size: | 10 cm × 10 cm × 30 cm |
| Begin: | January 12, 2018, 03:59 UTC |
| Starting place: | SHAR FLP |
| Launcher: | PSLV-XL C-40 |
| Status: | in orbit, active |
| Orbit data | |
| Rotation time : | 94.6 min |
| Apogee height : | 512.1 km |
| Perigee height : | 500.5 km |
PicSat is a French nanosatellite used to study exo- planetary transits . This is a 3U CubeSat , which was developed and built by the LESIA Laboratory for Space Research and Astrophysical Devices ( Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique ) in Meudon near Paris .
construction
The PicSat satellite uses a single-mode optical fiber that feeds a single- photon avalanche diode for high-precision photometry . Its main objective is to observe the planet Beta Pictoris b when it is about to pass in front of its star. The secondary scientific goal is to detect comet transits. A third objective of the mission is to demonstrate a new technological concept in which starlight is injected into an optical fiber on board a satellite. This serves the development of fiber-based interferometers in CubeSat size.
A Mode V / U FM repeater is also on board as a further payload . This was made available by AMSAT Francophone and the French radio club REF . The repeater is only available if the scientific mission allows it. The FM repeater also needs a 1750 Hz tone to open.
mission
The satellite was launched on January 12, 2018 with a PSLV-XL launcher along with two main payloads and 30 other small satellites from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in India.
Frequencies
- Uplink FM: 145.910 MHz
- Downlink FM: 435.525 MHz
Web links
- picsat.obspm.fr (English)